Chapter 791
January arrived in the blink of an eye, winter of 1943!
The humid sea breeze from the Indian Ocean, carrying a strong smell of engine oil, swept across the air above Yangon Harbor.
The massive waterline of the 10,000-ton Liberty ship pressed against the sea surface, producing a dull metallic grinding sound.
The enormous gantry crane, like a steel behemoth, steadily hoisted heavy wooden crates bearing the white "USA" lettering onto the dock.
Colonel Lin Hongyu, the military commander of the Expeditionary Force Logistics Command stationed in Yangon Port, took a deep drag on a Camel cigarette between his fingers.
His face, tanned dark by the tropical sun, bore an undisguised look of shock.
"Director, this is the list of the third batch of aid supplies that arrived in Hong Kong this morning."
Lieutenant Zhang, the adjutant, ran quickly up to the control tower.
His forehead was covered in sweat, and he was holding a thick stack of receipts in his hand.
"Sixty Sherman M4 tanks, two hundred large-caliber howitzers, and mountains of dehydrated vegetables, penicillin, and high-strength steel!"
Lin Hongyu took the order and his eyes quickly scanned the huge numbers.
"Since the Cairo Declaration was issued, American supplies have been arriving almost nonstop, with ships arriving every day."
"Looking across Southeast Asia, besides Pearl City, where else is more bustling than here?"
He stubbed out his cigarette on the railing, looking down at the densely packed, busy porters and American-made truck fleet below, like worker ants.
Lieutenant Zhang wiped his sweat and nodded in deep agreement.
"Although Pearl City still has its foundation, the port facilities were mostly destroyed by the war and have not yet fully recovered to full capacity."
“Our Yangon not only has the Expeditionary Force stationed here, but also relies on this vital artery that connects us directly to the country.”
"This port, which is in fact the second largest in Southeast Asia, is even showing signs of surpassing the first."
Lin Hongyu sneered, his gaze becoming extremely profound.
"First or second place is just an empty title; what really matters is that we have firmly established ourselves here."
Lieutenant Zhang opened another encrypted file.
"The draft of the 'Ten-Year Infrastructure Plan for the Pan-Indochina Peninsula,' which was just approved by the General Staff, was leaked in Yangon and Bangkok yesterday, and the public was in an uproar."
"Construct a high-standard highway and heavy-haul railway network that runs through Myanmar and Siam and directly into the country."
"We also need to develop water conservancy projects, build large-scale rubber processing plants and thermal power plants in the area."
Lieutenant Zhang's eyes gleamed with fanaticism.
"This is all real money invested!"
"The local people now regard our expeditionary force with even greater affection than they would a Bodhisattva!"
Lin Hongyu adjusted the brim of his military cap.
He knew all too well the iron-fisted support behind all these grand plans.
"That was the General's foresight."
"Use swords to break open the iron shell of the colony, and then use infrastructure and commerce to bind the roots of this land tightly to the homeland."
"Within ten years, the entire Indochina Peninsula will become our most stable and prosperous rear area."
……
mountain city.
The building of the Ministry of Military Affairs of the Nationalist Government.
There is no subtropical sunshine here, only a persistent damp cold.
The charcoal brazier next to Chen Cixiu's desk made a slight crackling sound.
That little bit of heat couldn't dispel the suffocating stuffiness in the air.
Chu Yunfei sat comfortably on the leather sofa, holding a cup of pre-Qingming Longjing tea that had stopped steaming.
His gaze was sharp as a knife, fixed on Chen Cixiu, the Minister of Military Affairs, who sat opposite him with a livid face.
"I still recommend that the divisions be downsized into reorganized brigades, and all army-level combat units be downgraded to reorganized divisions."
Chu Yunfei's voice was completely flat, as if he were stating a trivial matter.
"The personal military ranks of the commanding officers of the troops will remain unchanged."
"We must take advantage of the arrival of this massive amount of US aid to completely flatten the command hierarchy."
"This is something we had already done halfway through."
"We must take advantage of this reform to uproot and completely eliminate all the redundant staff across the country who are drawing salaries without working and have no combat effectiveness."
Chen Cixiu's fingers gripped the thin draft of the military reform proposal tightly.
He squeezed the edges of the paper until they were completely deformed.
He suddenly raised his head, his face, which was usually stoic, still showing disbelief and rage.
"Yunfei, you're playing with fire!"
Chen Cixiu's voice was very low, but it revealed an undisguised anxiety and apprehension.
"The reorganization is progressing too fast!"
He slammed the draft down on the table with a heavy thud.
"The reorganization of your Class A and Class B troops in North China has not yet been fully completed in terms of assimilation and integration."
"Now you want to take a one-size-fits-all approach and extend your reach across the entire country?"
Do you know how many people's jobs this means?
"How many people's lives will be taken out!"
Chu Yunfei looked at Chen Cixiu's shoulders, which were trembling slightly with excitement, his eyes as calm as still water.
How could he not know about the bloodshed and turmoil involved?
But once the American aid was fully implemented and the various warlords had new guns and cannons, any attempt to reduce or withdraw it would only lead to a real civil war.
After all, the plan for sixty American mechanics was not just a verbal promise, but a genuine material aid effort.
He must ensure that these weapons and equipment are in the hands of the combat units that should possess them.
"Resign from office."
Chu Yunfei leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees.
"Most of the current military spending is being wasted on those 'beggar' troops that are completely incapable of fighting."
"We won't ruthlessly scrape off this layer of rotten flesh."
"Are we supposed to distribute the superior equipment of these sixty American-equipped divisions like pepper to those pampered soldiers who can't even fire a gun?"
"money!"
"Where will the money for resettlement come from?!"
Chen Cixiu almost growled through his teeth.
"Lacking hundreds of thousands of troops will instantly drain the Ministry of Finance's treasury with astronomical severance pay alone. Moreover, the treasury is already depleted, next year's budget has been cut to the limit, and there is still a deficit of 1.3 billion yuan and 380 million yuan in national debt interest payments to be made."
Seeing that Chu Yunfei wanted to say something, Chen Cixiu quickly added, "I know that this trip to Cairo secured another billion dollars in economic aid, but the most crucial point is not about the money."
Chen Cixiu became increasingly alarmed as he spoke: "Send over a million soldiers who carry guns and have seen blood back to their hometowns."
"If the local authorities can't resettle them, then it will be a nationwide bandit uprising!"
"The risks involved are enormous. Don't forget, we already cut 300,000 redundant troops this fall."
Three hundred thousand?
It was just a paycheck of 300,000, which didn't actually cause any serious damage to the combat troops below.
On this basis, we can also properly reduce the number of old and weak soldiers by about one million.
Chu Yunfei withdrew his gaze and leaned back on the sofa.
He slowly and methodically pulled another top-secret document, stamped with the bright red seal of the North China Joint Command, from his inner pocket and gently pushed it across the table.
"We have certainly considered resigning."
Chen Cixiu glanced at the document suspiciously.
Chu Yunfei's voice carried an unquestionable top-level decisiveness.
"The troops that are being disbanded do not need to immediately return home with severance pay."
"We will use these veterans as the backbone and grassroots cadres, and transform them into JSBTs in various provinces on the spot."
"This is also an advanced version of our previous plan. This time, the entire army needs to work together with local divisions and districts to complete the restructuring."
Chu Yunfei held up one finger wearing a white glove.
"The tasks of these people are also very simple: to reclaim wasteland for farming, build bridges and roads, and revive local industries that have stagnated."
"Their military pay can be converted into construction subsidies, which can be offset by special loans for local infrastructure projects and US aid materials."
"This not only absorbed the soldiers but also stabilized local security."
Chu Yunfei looked directly at Chen Cixiu: "This is to lay the strongest foundation for the full economic recovery after the war. Therefore, although these soldiers are nominally still part of the military, they are also under the leadership of local and financial departments."
As Chen Cixiu listened to this groundbreaking concept of a closed-loop system for recruiting soldiers, his eyelids twitched violently.
He had to admit it.
Chu Yunfei's closed loop was designed flawlessly on paper, but political operations are never just about calculating on a sand table.
Having three leaders is a huge problem.
Chu Yunfei understood this principle, but he had no choice.
At this stage, only a partial compromise can be made.
His national economy, riddled with problems, prevented him from undertaking major reforms; he could only address the festering wounds bit by bit through minor surgeries.
"Yunfei, you're too idealistic."
Chen Cixiu shook his head, walked to the charcoal brazier, and brought his hands close to the flames, but still felt cold all over.
"Do you think those generals who hold guns and treat the army as their private property will obediently listen to orders?"
"Just two years ago..."
Chen Cixiu turned his head, his eyes revealing a deep sense of apprehension.
"The Chairman wanted to court-martial a senior Sichuan Army general because of his poor performance in combat."
"But as soon as word got out..."
"Among the Sichuan Army units below, the vile rumor of 'fighting back to Sichuan to defend our homeland' was openly spread!"
“Even the toilets in the Chairman’s residence had slogans like that!”①
Chen Cixiu took a deep breath, his chest heaving violently.
"You should understand what this means."
"This is a blatant coup!"
"Those lower-ranking officers only need to stir things up a little."
"What you call jsbt can turn back into a rebellious army at any time."
"Your drastic, one-size-fits-all approach will only drive them to desperate measures."
The air in the operations room fell into a deathly silence once again.
Only the soft, pattering sound of the cold rain hitting the glass outside the window resonated with one's senses.
Chu Yunfei slowly stood up.
He showed no fear or hesitation despite Chen Cixiu's warning.
His back was ramrod straight, the leather belt of his official robes cleaving out extremely sharp lines.
"Resign from office."
Chu Yunfei walked up to Chen Cixiu, his gaze so cold and hard it seemed to freeze the charcoal fire instantly.
"If the Chairman and you really believe that those few blustering rumors can shake the safety of the secondary capital."
He paused.
In those deep black eyes, the palpable killing intent and decisiveness were like a newly drawn sword.
"Then I suggest that the principal immediately transfer Wang Yaowu's 74th Army back to Sichuan to take up a post."
"Or perhaps."
"Directly transfer two armored divisions from the North China Armored Group and send them into the Chengdu Plain!"
"I did not agree with the Chairman's policy of 'pacifying the country before resisting foreign aggression'."
"But the war has reached this point, the Japanese army is no longer able to launch a counterattack, and is no longer qualified to continue the war. So it is perfectly acceptable for us to turn our blades inward."
“If they are unwilling to cooperate, I believe that the tracks of the Sherman tanks will run over their command post.”
"National policies are of paramount importance, and military orders are as solid as mountains." "We will absolutely not allow any old forces to clamor or manipulate us!"
This almost unreasonable and blatant use of force completely eroded Chen Cixiu's confidence to continue arguing.
He stared blankly at the man before him, now fully-fledged, commanding a million-strong army and the power to allocate massive amounts of American aid.
He was acutely aware of this.
The other side is no longer the war zone general who had to constantly consider the whims of the mountain city faction.
The tide is gone.
Or rather, a new trend belonging to iron-fisted power has been formed.
Chen Cixiu let out a long sigh.
"Never mind."
"Since you have made up your mind and have such unreasonable force as your backing, I, as the Minister of Military Affairs, cannot stop you."
Chen Cixiu turned around and walked to his desk, pressing the call button on the desktop.
A moment later, a capable colonel adjutant pushed open the door and entered.
"Jianping".
Chen Cixiu pointed to Chu Yunfei, who was standing calmly to the side, his tone carrying a hint of weariness after compromise.
"Pack your bags immediately, as a special envoy of the Ministry of Military Affairs."
"Follow Advisor Chu and return to the front lines in North China immediately."
The colonel's adjutant stood at attention and saluted, his voice booming, "Yes, sir!"
"After you go back..."
Chen Cixiu gave Chu Yunfei a deep look.
"Immediately coordinate with the North China Command to draft a list of the first batch of pilot troops for reform and reorganization."
"at the same time."
Chen Cixiu gritted his teeth and uttered the decision that made all the forces in the country green with envy.
"The equipment allocation for those sixty American mechanics."
"You are in charge of drafting a specific allocation plan based on the progress of the reorganization."
Chu Yunfei straightened his snow-white gloves.
A calm yet confident smile finally appeared at the corners of his mouth.
"You resign wisely."
Chu Yunfei took a half step back and gave an impeccable military salute.
"In a battle for the fate of the nation, swift and decisive measures are required."
"Yunfei will never let Chairman Chiang and you down."
With a crisp thud of his foot, Chu Yunfei turned and strode towards the door—
Pengcheng.
North China Joint Front Command.
The cold wind outside the window was like a knife, whipping up icy, withered leaves that pelted against the glass.
Inside the spacious operations room, a roaring charcoal fire burned, but the air felt somewhat stagnant due to a high-level closed-door meeting.
Chu Yunfei sat upright behind the large sand table, the chill he had just brought back from the mountain city still seemingly lingering on his dark green general's uniform.
Sitting opposite him was Hu Zongnan, who had just been urgently summoned.
This Northwest King has always been regarded as the "number one disciple of the emperor".
He remained upright at this moment, but beneath his thick eyebrows, which were always tightly furrowed, lay an undisguised vigilance and probing intent.
"Brother Shoushan, the Cairo Conference and the military and political conference in the mountain city have both set the tone."
Chu Yunfei didn't exchange many pleasantries. He took the documents from Li Jingzhong and pushed them across the table.
This document is a top-secret file drafted overnight by Chen Jianping, a special commissioner from the Ministry of Military Affairs.
"The equipment of sixty US-equipped divisions will soon arrive in Hong Kong. In order to take in this batch of military aid, the entire army's organization must be reorganized into a flat structure in the shortest possible time."
Hu Zongnan's fingers twitched slightly as he reached out and took the file.
His gaze fell on the number at the very top of the first page of the list.
That proud and reserved face instantly lost its color, and the muscles at the corners of his eyes twitched uncontrollably.
"The First Division?!"
Hu Zongnan's voice suddenly rose, filled with disbelief and instinctive resistance.
He suddenly raised his head and stared intently at Chu Yunfei: "Chief Consultant, is your first move going to cut right into my heart?"
The First Division of the National Revolutionary Army.
What is this concept?
That was the foundation of the Whampoa Military Academy training corps, the absolute lifeline from which the supreme commander of Chongqing rose to power.
This unit was stationed in Shaanxi for a long time, serving not only as the imperial guard protecting the rear, but also as Hu Zongnan's top ace.
Now, this draft clearly states that this "Number One Division in the World" will be directly downsized and downgraded!
"Not just the First Division."
Chu Yunfei's gaze was icy, and he did not back down in the slightest despite the other party's questioning.
His slender fingers tapped the dossier in the air.
"There is also the Second Division, which guards the Sino-Vietnamese border and has been at peace for a long time."
"The Third Division, which belonged to the Second Army, was transferred to the rear for rest and reorganization after the Battle of Changsha."
"And the Fifth Division, which suffered heavy losses in the Battle of Western Jiangxi and is currently resting and has no combat missions in the short term."
These four divisions.
They are all the most elite of the Central Army's direct subordinates, and they are currently all stationed in the rear.
Hu Zongnan slammed the file shut, his breathing becoming rapid.
"This is too big a step!"
Hu Zongnan placed his hands on his knees and leaned forward, trying to use his seniority and prestige to suppress the rising star in front of him.
"The First Division is the face of the Party-state!"
"If we downsize it, what will our arrogant and fierce generals think?"
"What will our allied forces across the country think of me as commander-in-chief?"
Faced with this almost interrogative statement, Chu Yunfei's expression remained frighteningly calm.
To implement this military reform that would offend all the warlords in the world, we must first use the hardest stone to sharpen it.
Since the First Division is the "face" of the nation, it must be used as the touchstone.
As long as the First Division bows its head.
Throughout the entire country, who would dare to utter even a single word of "no"?
The Whampoa clique was Chiang Kai-shek's core group within the Central Military Commission.
Chang Ruiyuan has always been decisive in dealing with these core supporters, and he can eliminate them at will.
"Precisely because it is the number one division in the world, and the face of the Party and the country."
Chu Yunfei slowly stood up, placing his hands on the edge of the table, his commanding gaze revealing an unyielding will of a commander.
"Therefore, it should set an example for all five million soldiers by leading from the front!"
Hu Zongnan wanted to open his mouth to refute.
Chu Yunfei did not give him that chance.
He deftly pulled a letter from the inside pocket of his uniform, revealing only half of it on the table.
The bright red "Zhongzheng" seal and the familiar thin gold script on it were like a dazzling lightning bolt, instantly stinging Hu Zongnan's eyes.
That was the Supreme Commander's order!
"This was also personally approved by the Chairman."
Chu Yunfei's voice was low, yet carried an unbearable weight: "Brother Shoushan, as a disciple of the Emperor, you shall carry out the Emperor's orders."
"If even the First Division is clinging to its old ways, Brother Shoushan, what gives me the right to challenge the Guangxi Clique, the Yunnan Army, or those other miscellaneous forces?"
Hu Zongnan's years of political acumen allowed him to instantly understand the current situation.
This is not just Chu Yunfei's knife.
This was also Chang Ruiyuan using Chu Yunfei to test the loyalty of the Northwest King.
and.
The allocation of equipment for the sixty American mechanized divisions was firmly in the hands of this young war commander.
Dare not obey.
The 1st Division not only lost its division designation, but it also couldn't even get a single bullet from the US.
The brief but extremely agonizing few seconds passed.
The resistance and resentment in Hu Zongnan's eyes receded like the tide.
He stood up abruptly, his back still straight, but his expression had transformed into absolute obedience.
"Since it's a decision made by the General Headquarters..."
Hu Zongnan took a deep breath and said firmly, "The department firmly supports the reorganization plan without any objection!"
Seeing the other party's attitude change instantly, Chu Yunfei nodded inwardly.
Be pragmatic and consider the overall situation.
This is what makes loyal generals so useful; as long as they reveal their trump cards, they can nip any potential threats in the bud.
"Brother Shoushan is a man of great integrity, and Yunfei deeply admires him."
The coldness in Chu Yunfei's eyes gradually faded, and he casually put the warrant back into his pocket.
He turned to look at Li Jingzhong beside him and made a gesture.
Li Jingzhong immediately understood, stepped forward, and turned to the first page to show the detailed reorganization list.
"According to the general command's plan."
Li Jingzhong read it aloud with an extremely clear and efficient pace.
"The former First Division shall be reorganized into the First Reorganized Brigade of the National Revolutionary Army, effective immediately!"
"It has four main American-equipped infantry regiments under its command, and is also equipped with a high-level logistics support regiment. The remaining heavy firepower and armored units will be reinforced as needed after the American aid arrives."
When Hu Zongnan heard the organization of "four infantry regiments plus one supplementary regiment", his tense expression finally eased a little.
"The personal military rank and benefits of the division-level commanding officer remain unchanged."
Chu Yunfei timely offered reassurance: "But redundant personnel who are paid without working and those who are just sitting around must be thoroughly eliminated during the screening process for this supplementary regiment."
There was no difference from before, and no reduction in personnel was made due to the division-to-brigade conversion.
This means that apart from being downgraded by one unit number, the actual combat strength and number of troops have not been fatally reduced; on the contrary, a qualitative change in firepower is about to occur.
"Yes!"
Hu Zongnan stood at attention and saluted, adopting an extremely humble posture: "After you return, I will personally oversee the downsizing of the First Brigade, and you will see results within seven days!"
After the talks concluded, Hu Zongnan, surrounded by a group of staff officers, quickly left the forward command post.
Silence returned to the operations room.
Chu Yunfei picked up the cup of tea, which had long since gone cold, but did not drink it.
His gaze slowly moved and landed on the giant defense map behind him that covered most of China.
Those forward positions marked with interlocking red and blue lines are still silently burning with the flames of war.
Lin Wei and Fang Ligong slowly walked out from behind the cubicle and came to Chu Yunfei's side, looking at the four rear division-level units that were highlighted on the map.
"Your Excellency's move of making an example of someone has completely opened the door to nationwide reorganization."
Chu Yunfei put the teacup back in its place, his gaze sharp.
"The main force that is currently confronting the Japanese invaders at the front should remain stationary for the time being, so as not to suffer serious damage and give the enemy an opportunity to take advantage."
His gaze swept over the densely packed numbers of the garrison troops.
"By targeting the troops in the rear areas that aren't fighting, we can save a significant amount of military spending each year, which can then be used for local economic development and defense industry construction." (End of Chapter)